Signal Rigidity is cited by 46% of large-organization leaders against 34% at smaller ones

Summary

McKinsey's 2026 survey shows that organizational rigidity weighs more heavily on large organizations than on small ones. Among leaders at organizations with more than 30,000 employees, 46 percent called rigidity a major challenge in handling geopolitical fragility. At organizations with between one and 5,000 employees, the share was 34 percent, just over a third. The report reads this as evidence that scale can make it harder to stay agile. It also observes that organizations with wider geographic spread are more likely to cite rigid structures and processes. The finding suggests that the biggest firms have the most to gain from loosening decision and resource routines.